LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



- -Sliell--^.- *1- 

TTn - 

UNITED STATES OF 'AMERICA. 



A 



CENTURY ■ 



OF 



Presidents of the United States 



FROM 

GEORGE WASHINGTON, 1789, 

TO 

BENJAMIN HARRISON, 1889, 

WITH 

IMPORTANT EVENT'S THAT OCCURRED DURING EACH 
ADMINISTRATION. 



Ir^l lln IDeree. 

^ ' BY ^ 

\\:^.i,MARV L. PETER. 



BUFFALO, N. Y. 

PUBLISHED BY MARY L. PETER, 

No. 194 Bryant Street. 

1892. 



PRICE, TWENTY- FIVE CENTS. 



2^ 



79^ 



.^ 



V'a"] 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1891. 

By MARY L. PETER, 

in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 



To My Dear Brother, 

WHOSE INTEREST IN THE WRITING OF THE FOLLOWING 
PAGES HAS BEEN BOTH ENCOURAGING AND IN- 
SPIRING, THIS LITTLE WORK IS NOW 
MOST AFFECTIONATELY 
DEDICATED, 

BV THE AUTHOR. 



PREFACE. 



As the well-known lines beginning, 

"First William, the Norman, 
Then William, his son," 

have enabled many children to remember, in their 
order, the English Sovereigns; so this little work is 
offered to young students of American history, in 
the hope, that its metrical arrangement may fix in 
their memories, not only the names of the Presi- 
dents, but also the more important events that 
occurred during each administration. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STA TES. 



NAMES OF THE PRESIDENTS. 



First, 

George Washington. 



Second, 

John Adams. 

Third, 

Thomas Jefferson. 

Fourth, 

James Madison. 

Fifth, 

James Monroe. 

Sixth, 

John Quincy Adams. 

Seventh, 
Andrew Jackson. 

Eighth, 

Martin Van Buren. 

Ninth, 
William Henry Harrison. 

Tenth, 
John Tyler. 

Eleventh, 

James Knox Polk. 

Twelfthy 

Zachary Taylor. 



Thirteenth, 

Millard Fillmore. 

Fourteenth, 
Franklin Pierce. 

Fifteenth, 

James Buchanan. 

Sixteenth, 

Abraham Lincoln. 

Seventeenth, 

Andrew Johnson. 

Eighteenth, 

Ulysses Simpson Grant. 

Nineteenth, 
Rutherford Birchard Hayes. 

Twentieth, 

James Abram Garfield. 

Twenty-first, 
Chester Alan Arthur. 

Twenty-second, 
Grover Cleveland. 

Twenty-third, 

Benjamin Harrison. 



Let the children compare the names of the Presidents in rhyme, 
with this table, that they may see for themselves that the proper order 
of the names is exactly preserved. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STA TES. 



Names of the Presidents in Rhyme. 



First Washington, then Adams, 

Next Jefferson we view; 
James Madison, Monroe, and then 

John Adams' son — John Q. 

After General Jackson 

Van Buren's name we trace, 

Preceding Harrison, who died; 
John Tyler took his place. 

Then Polk, and General Taylor, 

Who shortly met his fate. 
When Fillmore, his Vice-President, 

Became chief magistrate. 

Frank Pierce, and James Buchanan, 
Then Lincoln, who was slain; 

His life was made a sacrifice, 
The Union to maintain. 

And after Johnson, Grant, 

A soldier valiant, tried. 
Followed by Hayes, then Garfield, 

Who like a martyr died. 

Arthur was the twenty-first, 
Then Grover Cleveland came. 

And eighty-nine brought Harrison, 
The second of his name. 

Andrew Jackson was the seventh President, and Andrew Johnson the seventeenth. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



17 89. 




1797, 



GEORGE WASHINGTON. 



Washington — Father of our Nation, 
First in war, in peace, in station, — 
Did, as our leader, thus advise : 
" Lay foundations deep and wise. 
From alliances refrain, 
Neutrality with all maintain." 
His Cabinet^ with care selected, 
By Hamilton's wise aid directed, 
That firm our currency might stand, 
A Mint and Central Bank they planned 
And with a rare financial skill. 
The war-drained Treasury to fill. 
And foster manufacturing — laid 
A tax on stills and import-trade. 
For whisky's tax one State^ rebelled; 
"Mad Anthony"^ the Indians quelled. 
Soon foreign credit we attained, 
And treaties with three nations* gained. 

The arts of peace, by wisdom led, 
A genial influence o'er us shed. 
An unknown value was revealed 
In every Southern cotton-field, 
This invention was When Whitney's^ inspiration wrought 
ney!"A7kwr1ght and The changc his cotton-gin has brought, 
three greaVfnvento^rs The inventive gcnius of the age, 
of the age. Thus early gave forth rich presage. 



W,\shington's 
Cabinet. 

Sec. of State, 

Thomas Jefferson. 

Sec. of the Treas., 

Alexander Hamilton. 

Sec. of War, 

Henry Kno.x. 

Attorney-General, 

Edmund Randolph. 



Pennsylvania. 

3 
General Wayne. 

4 

England, Spain, 

Algiers. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



u 



1797. 




1801. 



JOHN ADAMS. 

John Adams, our next President, 

Unpopular became ; 
His "Alien and Sedition" laws 

Brought censure on his name. 



1801. 




1809. 



THOMAS JEFFERSON. 

Through Jefferson, whose Declaration 
The Declaration of Made US an independent nation, 

Independence, July 4tn, ' 

1776. We purchased Louisiana' land, 

2 And Mississippi's gate so grand. 

In 1803, for $15,509,- 
000, Jefferson purchased , 

Nlp^oieonXnlparte"'" Within this term was set afloat 
Robert Fulton's first steamboat. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED ST A TES. 



13 



1809. 



This war was with 
England, in 1812, and 
long- spoken of as the 
late war. 




1817, 



JAMES MADISON. 

Came Madison. — Victorious 
Our arms on sea and lake, 

Did, for Columbia's naval fame, 
A valiant record make. 



1817. 



Monroe's administra- 
tion was known afi the 
"era of good feeling." 



Florida was purchased 
from Spain, for $5,000,- 
000. 




1825. 



JAMES MONROE. 

Monroe's^ most famous doctrine reads 
" The Foreign Powers that dare 

Set foot upon this continent. 
Our foes we will declare." 

Fair Florida^ then came to us, 

A rich and welcome prize, 
And Henry Clay, with skill, obtained 

Missouri's compromise. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED ST A TES. 



15 



1835. 



The Erie Canal was 
opened in 1825, and in 
derision was called 
'Clinton's ditch." 



First railroad comple- 
ted 1826, at the Quincy 
franile quarries, Mass. 
n Jan. 1827, nine miles 
were finished from the 
coal mines at Mauch 
Chunk to the Lehigh 
river. 




1839. 



JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 

In time of Adams' son — John Q. — 
Improvements great were planned ; 

Clinton's canal/ 'twixt sea and lake, 
And railways- through the land. 



1839. 




1837. 



ANDREW JACKSON. 



" Old Hickory " this chief was called- 
' Though Jackson was his name; — 

When Carolina " nullified," 

He quenched rebellion's flame. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



17 



1837. 




1841. 



iMARTIN VAN BUREN. 



This war was known 
as the "Patriot War." 



Van Buren, " Sage of Kinderhook," 
Found trouble near and far ; 

The money crash of thirty-seven, 
And Canada's brief war.^ 



March 4, 
1841. 




April 4, 
1841. 



WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. 



The Battfe of Tippe- Brave William Henry Harrison, 

canoe was fought in r»i-.- ..o 

iSii. "Hero of 1 ippecanoe, ■' 

3 

"Tippecanoe and Ty- For Only One short nionth did rule, 

ler too," the refrain of 

the political song in And then Came "Tyler, too."^ 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



W) 



April 4, 
1841. 



A dispute with Eng-- 
laad about the bound- 
ary line between Maine 
iind Canada was settled 
in 1842 by Lord Ashbur- 
ton and Daniel Webster. 

Dorr'9 rebellion, in 
Rhode Island, in 1841. 

3 
Anti-rent troubles in 
New York, in 1846. 

4 
First message sent by 
teletrraph, was Irom 
Washington to Balti- 
more, in 1844. 



1845. 



The United States 
claimed its boundary 
line west of the Rocky 
Mountains to be 54° 40'. 
England insisted it was 
4Q°. It was settled in 
favor of England. 




March 4, 
1845. 



JOHN TYLER. 

The Northeast boundary/ uncertahi, 
Was fixed by Webster and Ashburton ; 
Dorr's mad rebellion^ set at rest ; 
The anti-renters'^ claims suppressed ; 
The telegraph* — oh, wondrous thought — 
Flashed o'er the wire " What God hath wrought 
Of ill-famed Mormon first we heard ; 
All this in Tyler's term occurred. 




1849. 



JAMES KNOX POLK. 

While Polk was President, the blow 
Was struck, by which, from Mexico, 
We took a goodly heritage ; 
And Texas, too — with forethought sage. 
The Northwest bound'ry^ was defined, 
And California's gold first mmed. 

About this time, for household aid, 
A marvelous machine was made. 
Grateful to good Elias Howe, 
Let every weary seamstress bow. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STA TES. 



31 



March 4, 
1849. 




July 9, 
1850. 



ZACHARV TAYLOR. 

" Old Rough and Ready," loving term 
For General Taylor's name : 

Too soon he died, and Fillmore then 
Chief Magistrate became. 



July 9, 
1850. 




March 4, 
1853. 



MILLARD FILLMORE. 



Webster and Clay, those statesmen wise, 
Perceiving danger near at hand, 

Their peaceful measures did devise. 
And many Compromises planned. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STA TES. 



•.>3 



185.3. 




1857. 



FRANKLIN PIERCE. 

With Pierce, came Kansas' border war, 
Fierce party feuds waged near and far 
All Compromises were defied. 
And " Squatter Sovereignty " was cried. 



1857. 




1861. 



JAMES BUCHANAN. 



When James Buchanan took the Chair, 
Surcharged with discontent the air ; 
The Dred Scott case, and John Brown's raid, 
To frenzy roused, and tumult made. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 25 




March 4, ^Hi^' '^*^f April 14, 

1861. ^m''' "^:^» 1865. 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 

When Lincoln came, secession rose ; 
Our country heaved with mighty throes 
Of anguish, in the bloody strife 
That nearly cost our nation's life. 
Our trouble, all the world could see, 
Was mainly caused by slavery. 
To check the strife, 'twas plain we must 
Crush this great wrong into the dust. 
Then Lincoln, with a prescience rare, 
I " The will to do ; the soul to dare," 

On the eve of the bat- 
tle of Antietam, Sep- Thus^ to the God of battles, prayed : 

tember 17, 1862, Lincoln 

Ar^htrGodThrt i°f '-Most Holy Father, lend Thine aid 

the Union troops were 

successful, he would With full success this fray to crown ; 

crown the result by a 

dom wThe°s'la^?/s. ^'^^' Then may we put this evil down." 
The vict'ry came — the vow was paid 

This proclamation _, , . -r-> 1 ■ 1 

was made September By his great Proclamation'' made. 

22, 1862, and went into 

effect January i, 1863. gjx rnillion slavcs wcrc freed ; no more 
The badge of servitude they wore. 

Four long years war o'er us hung, 
Ere the bells of peace were rung. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



•<?: 



April 14, 
1865. 




3Iiirch 4, 
1869. 



ANDREW JOHNSON. 



Within six months af- 
ter the close of the war, 
one million soldiers had 
returned to peaceful 
avocations. 

2 

In i868 an attempt 
was made to impeach 
President Johnson for 
violating the Tenure of 
Office law, because he 
tried to remove from 
office Edwin M. Stan- 
ton, Secretary of War; 
but after a long trial 
Johnson was acquitted. 



Through the enter- 
prise of Cyrus W. Field 
the Atlantic cable was 
successfully laid June, 
i866 

4 
In October, 1867, Sec- 
retar.,y Seward pur- 
chased Alaska from 
Russia, for the sum of 
$7,000,000. 



Soon, Lincoln by the assassin died ; 

Johnson his vacant place supplied : 

The army^ peacefully disbanded ; 

This President was reprimanded.^ 

Field's ocean wire,'* at length, was wrought, 

And Seward* rich Alaska bought. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



29 



1869. 




1877. 



ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT. 

In war times, when oppressed with fear, 
We sought, but found no helper near, 
Came forth, our bleeding land to save, 
A soldier, patriotic, brave. 
Of many frays, the hero he. 
For conquest and for liberty. 

When duty called us to declare 
Who best would fill the Ruler's Chair; 
With grateful, overwhelming voice. 
Intrepid Grant, we made our choice. 



The first PaciKc Rail- 
road was completed in 



By the decision of a 
board of arbitrators, 
who met at Geneva, 
Switzerland; England 
paid the United States 
for the Alabama and 
other war claims, $15.- 
500,000, the same sum 
that President Jefferson 
paid France for the 
Louisiana tract. 

Bell's telephone was 
patented in 1876. 



Within his term, complete, we find 

The Road^ that does two oceans bind ; 

The great Centennial Exposition ; 

Our war claim ^ closed without collision ; 

A wonderful invention, known 

As Bell's'' magnetic telephone ; 

These mark his times; and next we name 

Chicago's fearful flood of flame. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



31 



187 




1881, 



RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAVES. 

When Hayes came to the Chair of vState, 
His aim was to conciliate. 
From Southern States our troops withdrew, 
And confidence restored anew. 



In 1878 the United 
States paid to England 
$5,500,000 for trespass- 
ing on her fishing 
grounds. 



Two Chinese treaties then were made ; 
The fish-award^ to England paid; 
And for the first time since the war, 
Our* currency was sold at par. 



Marcir4, 
1881. 




Sept. 19, 

1881. 



JAMES ABRAM GARFIELD. 

A century had passed away 

Since Revolutionary day; 

And, from the civil war, a score 

Of years had come and gone, before 

Garfield assumed a Leader's care ; 

Whom still in grateful mind we bear 

For just reforms; ere yet the blow, 

Of wild fanatic, laid him low. 



PRESIDENTS OF. THE UNITED STATES. 



33 



Sept. 19, 
1881. 



In 1883 one-half 
ounce letter post- 
age was reduced 
from three to two 
cents. In 1885 one 
o u n-c e letters re- 
quired but two 
cents for postage. 




March 4, 

1885. 



CHESTER ALAN ARTHUR. 

Then Chester Arthur, without blame, 

By right, our President became. 

The Edmunds-Tucker bill was passed, 

Crushing polygamy at last. 

The Star Route frauds. Law took in hand. 

And cheaper postage^ blessed the land.- 



1885. 




1889. 



GROVER CLEVELAND. 

'Twas after twenty years and four, 

A Democrat these honors wore ; 

Cleveland his honest record made, 

Tho' people did not choose free trade, — 

Huge labor strikes and feuds arose. 

And earthquakes sealed sad Charleston's woes. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 35 




1889. JHHinS^k 18 



BENJAMIN HARRISON. 

Year eighty-nine brought into view 
A kinsman of old " Tip'canoe ; " 
Another Harrison is Chief ; 
And now — for good, or else for grief — 
The tariff and the silver bills 
Divide the people's votes and wills ; 
And liquor traffic still defies 
The legislation of the wise. 

And thus the story of our land 
Teaches to all this lesson grand, 
That truth and virtue underlie 
All national prosperity. 
Come weal, come woe, to God we pray 
The Stars and Stripes forever may 
A welcome to our country wave — 
Land of the Free, the True, the Brave. 



36 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STA TES. 



NAMES OF THE PRESIDENTS 

WITH PLACES AND DA TES OF THEIR BIRTHS AND DEA THS. ' 



Born in Westmoreland Co. , Va. 

February 22, 1732. 

Died at Mt. Vernon, Virginia, 

December 14, 1799. 



Born at Braintree, Norfolk Co. , Mass. , 

October 30, 1735. 

Died at Quincy, Norfolk Co., Mass., 

July 4, 1826. 

Born at Shadwell, Albemarle Co., Va., 

April 2, 1743. 

Died at Monticello, Albemarle Co., Va., 

July 4, 1S26. 



Born in King George County, Va., 

March 16, 1751. 

Died at Montpelier, Hanover Co., Va., 

June 28, 1836. 



Born in Westmoreland County, Va. , 

April 28, 1758. 

Died in New York City, 

July 4, 1831. 



Born at Braintree, Norfolk Co., Mass., 

July II, 1767. 

Died in Washington, D. C. , 

February 23, 1848. 



Born in Waxhaw Settlement, Union Co. , N. C. , 

March 15, 1767. 

Died near Nashville, Tenn. , 

June 8, 1845. 



Born at Kinderhook, Columbia Co., N. Y., 

December 5, 1782. 

Died at Kinderhook, Columbia Co., N. Y., 

July 24, 1862. 



Born in Berkeley County, Va. , 

February 9, 1773. 

Died in Washington, D. C, 

April 4, 1S41. 



Born at Greenvvay, Nelson Co., Va., 

March 29, 1790. 

Died in Richmond, Virginia, 

January 18, 1862. 



GEORGE WASHINGTON. 



JOHN ADAMS. 



THOMAS JEFFERSON. 



JAMES MADISON. 



JAMES MONROE. 



JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 



ANDREW JACKSON. 



MARTIN VAN BUREN. 



WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. 



Born in Mecklenburg County, N. C, 

November 2, 1795. 

Died in Nashville, Tenneseee, 

June 15, 1849. 



Born in Orange County, Virginia, 
November 24, 1784. 
Died in Washington, D. C, 
July 9, 1850. 



JOHN TYLER. 



JAMES KNOX POLK. 



ZACHARY TAYLOR. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED ST A TES. 



37 



NAMES OF THE PRESIDENTS 

WITH PLACES AND DA TES OF THEIR BIRTHS AND DEA THS. 

(continued.) 



MILLARD FILLMORE. 


Born at Sumner Hill, Cayuga Co., N. Y., 

January 7, 1800. 

Died in Buffalo, Erie Co., N. Y., 

March 8, 1874. 


FRANKLIN PIERCE. 


Born in Hillsborough County, N. PI. , 

November 23, 1804. 

Died in Concord, New Hampshire, 

October 8, 1869. 


JAMES BUCHANAN. 


Born in Franklin County, Penn., 

April 22, 1 791. 

Died in Lancaster, Lancaster Co. , Penn. , 

June I, 1868. 


ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 


Born in Hardin County, Kentucky, 

February 12, 1809. 

Died in Washington, D. C, 

April 15, 1865. 


ANDREW JOHNSON. 


Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, 

December 2g, 1808. 

Died near Carter's Station, Carter Co., Tenn.. 

July 31, 1875. 


ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT. 


Born at Point Pleasant, Clermont Co. . O. , 

April 27, 1822. 

Died at Mt. McGregor, Saratoga Co., N. Y., 

July 23, 18S5. 


UTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES. 


Born in Delaware County, Ohio, 
October 4, 1S22. 


JAMES ABRAM GARFIELD. 


Born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, 

November 19, 1831. 

Died at Elberon, Monmouth Co., N. J., 

September 19, 1881. 


CHESTER ALAN ARTHUR. 


Born at Fairfield, Franklin Co. Vt., 

October 5, 1830. 

Died in New York City, 

November 18, 1886. 


GROVER CLEVELAND. 


Born at Caldwell, Essex Co., N. J., 
March 18, 1837. 


BENJAMIN HARRISON. 


Born at North Bend, Hamilton Co., 0., 
August 20, 1S33. 



38 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STA TES. 



PRESIDENTS UNDER WHOSE ADMINISTRATION STATES HAVE 
BEEN ADMITTED TO THE UNION. 



The thirteen English colonies, now known as " The Thirteen Orig- 
inal States," did not enter the Union at one time, but were admitted 
in the following order : Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey in 
1787; Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, 
New Hampshire, Virginia and New York in 1788; North Carolina in 
1789, and Rhode Island in 1790. 

[To each State has been given a popular name, besides the one under which it was admitted 
to the Union. Delaware was called Diamond ; Pennsylvania, Keystone ; New Jersey, Garden ; 
Georgia, Empire State of the South ; Connecticut, Land of Steady Habits ; Massachusetts. 
Bay State ; Maryland, Old Line ; South Carolina, Palmetto ; New Hampshire, Granite State ; 
Virginia, Mother of Presidents ; New York, Empire State ; North Carolina, Turpentine State ; 
Rhode Island, Little Rhody.] 

I. GEORGE WASHINGTON. 

No. OF 

State. Name of State. Admitted. 

14th Vermont (Greeia Mountain) March 4. 1791. 

15th Kentucky (Blue Grass) June i, 1792. 

i6th Tennessee (Volunteer) June i, 1796. 

III. THOMAS JEFFERSON. 
17th Ohio (Buckeye) November 29, 1802. 

IV. JAMES MADISON. 

i8th Louisiana (Creole) April 8, 1812. 

19th Indiana (Hoosier) December 11, 1816. 

V. JAMES MONROE. 

2oth Mississippi (Bayou) December 10, 1S17. 

2ist Illinois (Prairie) December 3, 1S18. 

22d Alabama (Cotton) December 14, 1S19. 

23d Maine (Pine Tree) March 15, 1820. 

24th Missouri (Iron) August 10, 1821. 

VII. ANDREW JACKSON. 

25th Arkansas (Bear) June 15, 1836. 

26th Michigan (Lake) January 26, 1837. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED ST A TES. 39 



X. JOHN TYLER. 

No. OF 

State. Name of State. Admitted. 

27th Florida (Peninsular) March 3, 1845. 

XI. JAMES KNOX POLK. 

28th Texas (Lone Star> December 2g, 1845. 

29th Iowa (Hawkeye) December 28, 1846. 

30th Wisconsin (Badger) May 29, 184S. 

XIII. MILLARD FILLMORE. 

31st California (Golden) September 9, 1S50. 

XV. JAMES BUCHANAN. 

32d Minnesota (Gopher) May 11, 1858. 

33d Oregon (Beaver) February 14, 1859. 

34th Kansas (Garden of the West) January 29, 1861. 

XVI. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 

35th West Virginia (Switzerland of America) June 19, 1863. 

36th Nevada (Silver) October 31, 1864. 

XVIL ANDREW JOHNSON. 

37th Nebraska (Black Waters) March i, 1867. 

XVIII. ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT. 

38th Colorado (Centennial) July i, 1876. 

XXIII. BENJAMIN HARRISON. 

39th Montana November, 1889. 

40th Washington November, 1889. 

41st North Dakota November, 1889. 

42d South Dakota November, 1889. 

43d Idaho July, 1 890. 

44th Wyoming July, 1890. 

The following Territories belong to the United States: New Me.xico, Utah, Arizona, Alaska, 
Indian Territory and Oklahoma, also the District of Columbia. 



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